Disney Rides/Attractions

For the past few weeks, I have been talking about my top fastpass+ picks for each of the Disney Parks – So far, I have covered the Magic Kingdom, Hollywood Studios, and Epcot, and this week I will round out my lists with the final park – Animal Kingdom! Admittedly – Animal Kingdom is not my favorite of the Walt Disney World Theme Parks. BUT – it DOES have some amazing things to offer for animal lovers, and I know that my son will ADORE it – as he is SUPER into the zoo and any and all animals right now. So here they are – our top Animal Kingdom Fastpass picks:

First up on the list HAS to be the Kilimajaro Safari ride – as it will give us all a chance to see some animals, and to learn more about them too! Plus – we don’t have to walk – which is a plus in my book (call me lazy – but it’s really for the kid – better to save his little legs and get him the chance to ride around and see some animals he’s never seen before!)

To say my son is into dinosaurs is an understatement – he loves them so much he even has his own giant T-Rex pool float. So naturally, Dinosaur is on our “must ride” Fastpass+ list – I hope it doesn’t scare him – am hoping he is intrigued more than frightened

Meet & Greet with Mickey & Minnie – might not seem “fastpass” worthy to some – but – again – my son is 3, so – meeting Mickey and Minnie is pretty much top on his Disney wish list, so I want to make sure he gets to do it!

Obviously, these Fastpass+ picks are chosen mainly with my almost 4-year old in mind, since it’s his first trip, I want to make sure he is seeing things tailored to his interests, and I really hope he loves what I picked!

What about you – what are your and your family’s must-do Fastpass rides/attractions at WDW?

When I was a kid, I really did NOT care for Epcot. And back in the early 90’s – they certainly didn’t have as much to offer young ones as they do today! It bored me – the countries didn’t make any sense to me, and the whole “Future World” concept did NOT interest me at all. These days, I have grown to appreciate Epcot MUCH more – the futuristic theme is kitschy and fun, and the countries still aren’t my favorite – but their food (and drink!) options are much more appealing as an adult

As we prepare to take our first family trip to Walt Disney World, I try and imagine how my son will see Epcot – will he view it as boring like I did, or will he love it? I tend to think he will love it, as he kind of loves everything and is at that great age where he is in awe of everything new – but still, when it comes to picking Fastpasses for Epcot, I want to make sure I am choosing extra carefully, picking rides and attractions that will cultivate a love for Epcot at a young age. So – I spent a LOT of time thinking about these – my top Epcot Fastpass+ picks:

The Epcot Character Spot was a MUST HAVE on my Epcot Fastpass list – my son LOVES Mickey and pals – so the chance to meet them ALL in one spot is a necessity! When we were here years ago, it was the “fab five” – Mickey, Minnie, Donald, Goofy and Pluto – and I am not sure all 5 are still here regularly – but no matter to us – we will love whoever is there for hugs and photos and autographs!

Test Track – Now that the ride has been redesigned and you have the interactive queue where you design your car, I just know that this will be a home run with my son (plus, we love it too!)

Spaceship Earth – This is a ride that used to have little to no standby wait time, but has grown largely in popularity recently, and has experienced wait times of 45-60 minutes. And since I love it – I want to make sure it’s one we are able to do – so it rounds out our fastpass list for Epcot!

I am pumped to be getting closer to our WDW trip – we are under 3 months now on our countdown! And I have been working diligently on planning the trip – making lists for packing, purchasing things here and there for the trip, and of course making Fastpass+ lists – check out my ones for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, and stay tuned next week for my Animal Kingdom picks!

Last week I talked about how my Disney vacation is coming soon (under 100 days now!) and that I was working on my top Fastpass+ picks for the Magic Kingdom. Since then, I have been doing even more planning – and have finalized our top Hollywood Studios Fastpass+ Picks:

Slinky Dog Dash has been under construction since last fall, and will finally be opening to the masses at the end of this month along with the rest of Toy Story Land. I am REALLY REALLY hoping to snag fastpasses for this – as my son loves Toy Story, and he especially loves Slinky Dog – so fingers crossed we can get this one!

Star Tours – This is one that everyone in my family will love – my husband love Star Wars (and the ride), and my son is a big fan of it too – he hasn’t ridden it yet since this will be his first Disney World trip – but I have a feeling he will love the experience – the 3-D glasses, boarding the “vehicle”, the droids, etc

The Tower of Terror is one of my personal favorites – I remember waiting in line for over 2 hours when it first opened – and then boarding that creepy “Service Elevator” for the journey into the Twilight Zone…I love all thinks horror so this is right up my alley. My son also enjoys creepy/spooky stuff, so I am hoping he likes this – it might end up being a bit scary for him as he is only 3 – but I am hoping he is at least willing to try it!

It’s hard to believe that it’s been a YEAR since I booked our Disney World vacation – and that our countdown until we head to WDW is just over 3 months now! Time flies – and while I am not wishing away the summer, I am starting to get SUPER pumped and antsy to head back to Walt Disney World!

One thing that will help me feel even closer to the Mouse is making my Fastpass+ reservations online. This is something you can do 60 days in advance if you’re staying at a Disney World Resort (or 30 days in advance if you are staying off site), and for those of you not familiar, it’s basically a way to “reserve” a spot at popular attractions. You pick them (3 a day can be reserved ahead of time), and then go to the ride at the appointed fastpass return time – whereupon you are whisked away into the MUCH shorter “fastpass” line – therefore avoiding a super long wait time. Genius, right? Read more about it here

Needless to say – I have been thinking about my Fastpass+ selections for a WHILE – mulling over which would be best at each Park, and which my son would like best too (since this will be his first WDW trip!). I have managed to narrow down my selections somewhat – and am pretty solid on My top Magic Kingdom Fastpass+ Picks:

Seven Dwarfs Mine Train – This kid-friendly roller coaster is one we haven’t gotten to experience yet (since it opened after our last WDW trip) – but since it is pretty new, we know that a Fastpass is a MUST to avoid the Standby lines (which can get LONGGGG)

Peter Pan’s Flight – This is a personal favorite of mine – the flying ships I especially adore! It just reminds me of watching the movie as a kid and being so amazed at it all. I hope my son finds it as magical as I do! Even though it’s not a new attraction at all – the lines for it can be long (not sure why?) – so that’s what made me add it to the “must fastpass” list

Thunder Mountain – I was a bit apprehensive about adding this one to the list – as it is more of a “thrill” ride, and I worry my son won’t like it as much or it might scare him – BUT – it IS train themed, and I think that’s a major selling point for him – so I figure – why not give it a go?

There are others that I would like to use Fastpass for – Space Mountain mainly – but my boy is just about an inch shy of being tall enough, and I don’t want to assume he will grow an inch by September (although – who are we kidding – he will probably grow WAY more than an inch by then ha!) – so we will have to wait and see on that one. Plus – I don’t want to traumatize him (the way my dad did to me when he took me on Space Mountain when I was 4) – I have recovered luckily, but it can be a scary ride for a little person!

What about you – what rides are your absolutes for Fastpass+ selections?

Stay tuned here next week when I talk about more of my Fastpass+ PicksTGIF!

Disney’s Hollywood Studios has been taking guest on a journey through the movies for over 29 years – in fact, on May 1st the Park celebrated it’s 29th anniversary!

“The World you have entered was created by The Walt Disney Company and is dedicated to Hollywood—not a place on a map, but a state of mind that exists wherever people dream and wonder and imagine, a place where illusion and reality are fused by technological magic. We welcome you to a Hollywood that never was—and always will be.” – Michael Eisner said this during his speech on the day the park opened – back then it was called “Disney’s MGM Studios” – and some of us old timers (like myself will probably always call it that)

In honor of the Park celebrating 29 years, here’s a look back on some of my favorite Hollywood Studios moments:

Here’s to many, many more memories– especially as Hollywood Studios undergoes some MAJOR construction to bring some awesome new things this year and next – like Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land

Only 64 more days until the GRAND opening of the highly anticipated Toy Story Land at Disney’s Hollywood Studios – June 30th will be here before we know it!

The construction is coming along – and this week one REALLY important piece arrived:

There’s a new Sheriff in town!Standing at nearly 20 feet tall, Woody is posed right at the entrance to welcome you to Toy Story Land! Woody will be right in front of another popular Toy Story character’s attraction – The Slinky Dog Dash – which has been under construction since last fall

I can’t wait until June 30th to see pictures and videos of the finished product – and then to actually visit in person in September!